December 3, 2009 – The Star-Ledger – NJ, USA
Q. I have been consulting but have not been able to land a regular full time position. What best approaches do you suggest for those of us in our mid-late 50’s who want full time work? I truly believe that my age is a very real obstacle and many of my colleagues feel the same way — we all have impressive resumes, successful track records, yet don’t seem to be able to get anywhere. Your advice is appreciated.
— LF, Short Hills
A. Typically most hiring managers see experienced candidates as being more expensive than someone with less experience. With tight budgets, you need to sell the value you bring to the opportunity and why you are the best candidate.
Recently, I coached a client headed into a second round of interviews with a startup company. The CEO was 28 years old and his team members were all under 35, according to my client. The client proceeded to tell the CEO that they needed his “seasoning” for this startup. He continued with “Just think of the mistakes you can avoid with my expertise and the networks that I can leverage for you that a less experienced player would not have.” This landed him the position a few days later after some additional negotiations. Read story.
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